ennetavast

Ennetavast is a fictional land located in the northern regions of the fictional world of Middle-earth, as depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. It is one of the two great kingdoms of the Dwarves, the other being Khazad-dûm (Moria). Ennetavast is situated in the Blue Mountains, which separate it from the lands of the Edain and later the Men of the North.

The name "Ennetavast" is Sindarin, the Elvish language of Tolkien’s legendarium, and translates roughly to "East-town" or "East-hold." It is also known by its Dwarvish name, Khazad-nûr, meaning "Golden Hall." The kingdom was established by the Dwarves after their migration from the far east, following the First Age of Middle-earth. Ennetavast became a center of wealth and craftsmanship, particularly renowned for its gold and silver mines.

The kingdom played a significant role in the early history of Middle-earth. During the First Age, it was a stronghold of the Dwarves, though it was later abandoned after the fall of the Dwarven kingdom of Nogrod and the destruction of Khazad-dûm in the Third Age. By the time of the War of the Ring in the Third Age, Ennetavast had been largely forgotten, though its ruins and remnants were still visible in the Blue Mountains.

Ennetavast is primarily mentioned in Tolkien’s unpublished works, including his later writings and the appendices of *The Lord of the Rings*. Its history is intertwined with that of the Dwarves, the Elves, and the early conflicts of Middle-earth. The kingdom’s legacy endures as a symbol of Dwarven ingenuity and the shifting fortunes of the ancient races.